Association of short sleep duration with cardiometabolic risk factors in a population of rural Nigerian women: A cross-sectional study

Background: Short sleep duration of less than 5.5h a day has been associated with cardiometabolic risk factors. Epidemiological evidence suggests a rising trend in the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in Nigeria. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between traditional cardiometabolic risk factors, prediabetes, and short sleep duration in a group of rural Nigerian women. Subjects and Methods: Five hundred and thirty-eight women living in Ihuokpara, a rural community in Southeast Nigeria, participated in the study. A structured questionnaire was administered to the participants to obtain demographic information and self-reported nighttime sleep duration. Anthropometric measurements and blood pressure were recorded. Participants underwent a 75 g Oral Glucose Tolerance Test using standard protocols. Prediabetes was defined using the World Health Organization criteria (fasting plasma glucose 110–125 mg/dL or 2h post-glucose 140–199 mg/dL) and hypertension was defined using the Joint National Committee (JNC-7) criteria. Results: The mean age of the subjects was 49.9 ± 16.2 years and 280 (52%) had no formal education. Hypertension was present in 238 (44.2%), prediabetes was present in 120 (22.3%), generalized obesity in 32 (5.9%), and increased waist circumference (>88cm) in 116 (21.6%) women. Average sleep duration of less than 5.5h per night was reported in 182 (33.8%) women. Short sleep duration was significantly associated with prediabetes and hypertension but not obesity or older age in the subjects. Conclusion: More than a third of the women had short sleep duration and this was a significant risk factor for prediabetes and hypertension in them.